Method and device for heating open melting baths, especially galvanizing baths, enameling baths and glass baths

ABSTRACT

A method of and device for heating open melting baths, e.g. galvanizing baths, enameling baths, glass baths and the like, according to which an inert gas is by means of pipes, passages, slots and the like introduced into the respective bath and is withdrawn above the pipes and the like when no articles are to be immersed into the bath for treatment therein, whereas, when articles are to be immersed into the bath for treatment therein, the inert gas is withdrawn outside the path of movement of such articles or outside a device for feeding and withdrawing additional substances into and out of the bath respectively.

United States Patent Ackermann et al.

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR HEATING OPEN MELTING BATHS, ESPECIALLY GALVANIZINGBATHS, ENAMELING BATI-IS AND GLASS BATHS Inventors: Werner Ackermann,

Siegen-Trupbach; Frohmut Vollhardt, Siegen-Burbach, both of GermanyAssignee: SAG Siegener Aktiengesellschaft,

Germany Filed: Mar. 26, 1974 Appl. No.: 454,823

Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 21, 1974 Germany 2313974 US. Cl.432/26; 432/29; 432/195; 432/210 Int. Cl. F27b 14/00 Field of Search432/8, 23, 26, 29, 156, 432/195, 210

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 894,393 7/1908 Rankin...432/156 X 2,173,063 9/1939 Harris 432/156 X 2,263,309 11/1941 Murphy l432/156 X 2,958,520 11/1960 Fritz 432/210 X Primary Examiner-John J.Camby Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Walter Becker [57] ABSTRACT A method ofand device for heating open melting baths, e.g. galvanizing baths,ename'ling .baths, glass baths and the like, according to which an inertgas is by means of pipes, passages, slots and the like introduced intothe respective bath and is withdrawn above the pipes and the like whenno articles are to be immersed into the bath for treatment therein,whereas, when articles are to be immersed into the bath for treatmenttherein, the inert gas is withdrawn outside the path of movement of sucharticles or outside a device for feeding and withdrawing additionalsubstances into and out of the bath respectively.

20 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL 2 9 I975 SHEET PATENTH] JUL 291975 SHEET METHOD AND DEVICE FOR HEATING OPEN MELTING BATHS, ESPECIALLYGALVANIZING BATHS, ENAMELING BATI-IS AND GLASS BATHS The presentinvention relates to a method of heating open melting baths such asgalvanizing baths, enameling baths, lead coating baths, metallic baths,glass baths and the like in tubs and vats or tanks. The presentinvention comprises furthermore a device for practicing the above methodand also relates to methods and devices according to which a heat isconveyed from the outside to an open bath of materials in order to bringabout and maintain the heat condition of the bath. By open melting bathsare meant such baths the container of which the tub or vat or tank is atleast temporarily open for charging the bath material or for immersingof bodies or articles.

The heating of such baths has heretofore generally been effected byheating the outside of the respective container from the side thereof orfrom below by means of gas, oil or coal dust burners. Also an electricheating system was employed. According to the wall thickness and thematerial of the respective container, a considerable temperature dropoccurred between the content, i.e., the bath and the burners or theheating means whereby the container or container wall was subjected toconsiderable temperature stresses.

In addition thereto, even with a favorable arrangement of the burners orthe flue gas withdrawal or with a mixture with cooling air, a uniformheating was not possible. As a result thereof, damage by burning throughtears or deformations occurred.

Therefore, it has been suggested to arrange the heating system above thecontainer and cause the heat to act upon the surface of the bath. Forglass melts this type of heating was suitable. With galvanizing, leadcoating and enameling baths as well as with metal melt baths, however,in said last mentioned suggestion the effective depth of the heat energyfrom the surface was relatively minor aside from the interferingarrangement of the heating device above the respective container. Inaddition thereto, a considerable undesired formation of metal oxide wasencountered due to the direct contact of the melt with the outer airwhile considering the heat action upon the surface of the bath.

A further drawback of heretofore known methods and devices for heatingbaths of materials in containers consists in that the waste gases leavethe device with a temperature which exceeded by 100C and more thelowermost temperature in the container so that the waste gas temperaturein most instances amounted to more than 600C. These waste gas lossesgreatly affect the economy of heretofore known methods and devices.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a methodof heating open melt baths of materials in containers in which a heatingup of the bath may be effected in an economical manner and with aminimum of labor.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device as set forthabove which will be simple in construction and in operation.

Still another object of this invention consists in the provision of adevice as outlined in the preceding paragraphs which will make itpossible to employ the invention with such baths into which bodies allarticles of any type have to be immersed into the bath which means thata certain region within the bath must be free from pipes and conduitswhile a circulation of the bath melt must be assured.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear moreclearly from the following specification in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the device according to theinvention in which the inert gas is from a shaft conveyed into acompressor and from the latter into a heater and from the heater toimmerse tubes of the melting bath.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the device according to the presentinvention in which between the shaft and the compressor there isinterposed a treatment chamber for the material to be immersed into thebath or material which has already been treated.

FIG. 3 illustrates on a somewhat larger scale than FIGS. 1 and 2 thecontainer with the immersion tubes.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate additional examples of immersion tubes and gaswithdrawal means.

The method according to the present invention is characterized primarilyin that an inert gas is circulated through closed portions of the openbath and through a heater. According to an advantageous embodiment ofthe invention, the inert gas is by means of pipes, passages, slots orthe like introduced into the bath and is withdrawn above said pipes, andwith baths for treating bodies or articles to be immersed is withdrawnoutside the path of movement of such body or article or outside anadding and withdrawing device.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to theinvention, the inert gas is introduced into the bath symmetrically withregard to the longitudinal or transverse axis of the container and issymmetrically withdrawn.

According to a further development of the method according to theinvention for baths into which a body or article is immersed, it isprovided that the gas after leaving the bath is conveyed to the body orarticle to be treated in the bath or having been treated in the bathwhereupon the gas is subsequently heated.

According to a still further development of the invention, the containeris filled up to above the mouth of the pipes which introduce the gasinto the bath and of the lower end of a withdrawal shaft of thecontainer for the inert gas.

With a device for transferring the heat of a gas to a working medium ofa heat consuming process, it has become known to pass a heat dispensinggas through the liquid metal bath. It has furthermore become known witha heat exchanger for cooling hot inert gases in a metal bath whilegenerating steam, to introduce the hot inert gas through immersion pipesinto the metal bath. It has also become known to convey a heatdispensing inert gas from a core reactor through a metal bath. Finally,it is also known to circulate an inert gas passed through a metal bathwhile providing a heater and a metal bath. With the heretofore knowndevices, the liquid metal serves exclusively as heat conveying means ina heat exchanger with closed container.

The invention suggests a solution which is fundamentally different fromthat referred to above. More specifically, according to the invention,the bath liquid or melt is not employed as heat transfer means to heatabsorbing media but the inert gas is employed for directly heating anopen treatment bath for instance a galvanizing bath, enameling bath,lead coating bath or the like. A so-called air lift pump causes theinert gas to bubble through the bath in the container whereby acirculation of the bath is brought about so that the withdrawal of thegas from the open bath can be effected in one portion of the bath whichis located for instance with galvanizing baths, enameling baths and leadcoating baths outside that section of the bath which receives the bodyor article to be treated. Without resorting to mechanical or othercirculating means, all ranges of the bath are circulated withoutimpediments by immersed bodies to be treated or by articles or feedingor withdrawing pipes.

The device according to the invention for practicing the method of theinvention provides for instance in the gas circulating conduit behindthe container a separator, a compressor or a heater. In this connection,in the gas conduit between that container receiving the bath and thecompressor there may be provided an air preheater for the combustion airof the heater. According to a modification, in the conduit between thecompressor and the heater or in the heater itself, and air preheater maybe arranged. The first mentioned embodi ment has the advantage that thegas which passes out of the container is cooled once more in the airpreheater and is conveyed to the compressor at the lower temperature.

According to a further development of the invention, the container is ateach longitudinal and/or transverse side provided with a plurality ofpipes which convey the gas into the bath while above the pipes on thecontainer rim there is provided a withdrawing draft flue having thatvertical wall thereof which faces the interior of the container endabove the mouth of said pipes. The pipes may in a manner known per se bedesigned as immersion pipes which are arranged in rows parallel to andnear the side walls of the container. Advantageously, between the lowersection of the vertical flue wall which faces the interior of thecontainer, and the immersion pipe or mouth of the pipe there is provideda deviating wall. This deviating wall forces the gas introduced into thebath to maintain a rising movement in the vicinity of the container wallwhile the gas bubbles through the bath. The gas imparts upon the bathportion with the gas bubbles bubbling through a lower density so thatthis bath portion is above the gas exit from the pipes moved upwardlywhereby a circulation of the contents of the bath is effected. [f thegas, as is sug gested, is introduced into the container at bothlongitudinal or transverse sides thereof, a continuous circulation ofheated bath melt occurs at the walls of the container which means thatthe occurring lift pump effect will assure a circulation of thecontainer content without mechanical means even around an immersed bodyor around immersed pipes.

The deviating wall preferably ends at a certain distance from thecontainer between where it merges with a gate. The distance from thecontainer bottom and the height of the grate depends on the immersingdepths of the gas pipe and on the quantity and type of the bath melt.

In order to separate melt particles and condensed melt drops carriedalong by the gas current leaving the bath, the draft flue on eachcontainer side is connected to a separate leading into the feeding lineinto immersion pipes. Behind the draft flue there may be provided aseparator for melt vapors (demister). In this way it will be avoidedthat the compressor and the pipes of the heater are attacked by harmfulmelt vapors and particles.

According to a further development of the invention, between the flueshaft of each container side and the compressor or the air preheaterpreceding said compressor there is arranged a gas type closed treatmentchamber for the immersed bodies or articles or the bodies or articles tobe immersed. These bodies may be such bodies which are continuouslyintroduced into and withdrawn from the bath as for instance webs ofmaterial such as webs of sheet metal to be galvanized or bodies may beinvolved which are intermittently treated in conformity with animmersing method.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the device for practicing themethod according to the invention comprises primarily a container 1, forinstance a form of a tub or a vat or a tank, a compressor 2, a heater 3,and intermediate conduits between said parts. The heater 3 in additionto comprising a heat exchanger 4 also includes an air preheater 5 forthe burner 6 of the heater. The container 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 serveswith its content for galvanizing a web-shaped metal band. To this endthe container 1 illustrated in FIGS. l-3 comprises a lower part 7 withwalls 8 and 9 and the bottom 10 and by way of example intended forgalvanizing a web-shaped metal band. The walls and the bottom may beformed of two different material layers while the outer material layer11 consists of metal and is provided with lateral flanges 12. The innerlayer on the other hand is as customary a ceramic layer.

The flanges 13 of a metallic part 14 pertaining to an upper structure 15are connected to the flanges 12 of the outer layer of the lower part 7.The upper structure 15 is provided with a ceramic lining 16. The lowerpart 7 as well as the upper structures 15 form a container which is openat the top as is clearly shown in FIG. 3, so that articles may beimmersed or passed through this open area.

Laterally and above said upper structures 15, passages 17, 18 arerespectively arranged laterally and above said upper structures 15 andare extending along the longitudinal sides of the container. Each ofsaid passages 17, 18 is toward the interior of the container defined bywalls 19 and 20 and merges with a passage which is formed by the wall21, the end faces 22 of part 14 and the ceramic lining 16 as well as bythe passage formed by the walls 23, 24 respectively. One or moreconduits 25 lead into said passages l7, 18 which through a furthercommon conduit 37 (FIG. 1) are connected to the compressor 2.

Adjacent the wall 24 and facing away from the interior of the containeris a separator 26 which extends into a passage section 27. The feedinglines 28 which together merge with the conduit 39 of the heater 3 leadinto said passage section 27. Immersing pipes 27 opposite said feedinglines 28 are attached to the channel section 27. These pipes 29 havetheir horizontal section 30 extend through the upper structure 15,whereas the vertical section 31 of each immersing pipe is near andparallel to the wall 8, 9 directed downwardly into the container 1. Theimmersion pipes are arranged in such a way that they are from theirentrance place into the container located below the customary metal bathlevel Sp in the container.

Parallel to the immersion pipes 29 which are located in series adjacentto each other, there is a partition or deviating wall 32 arranged insaid container. This wall 32 has its upper edge located approximately atthe level of the horizontal section 30 of the immersion pipe 29 and thusbelow the level Sp of the metal bath M. The lower edge of the partitionor deviating wall 32 ends somewhat below the lower and of the immersionpipe 29 which in its turn ends approximately at half the height of thedepth of the melting bath.

The partitions or deviating walls 32 are near the bottom 7 of thecontainer 1 continued in a grate 33 each so that as indicated by thearrows of flow in FIG. 3, melt bath parts flow in the direction of thearrow 34 through the grate 33 into the space 35 between the grate orpartition and deviating wall 32 and the wall 8 or 9 of the container.

The inert gas which leaves the immersion pipes 29 at their lower end isshielded from the immersion area and bubbles through the melt in thischamber 35 outwardly and passes in the direction indicated by the arrowthrough the passages 17, 18 and the conduit 37 to the compressor 2.

The distance between the partition or deviating wall 32 and the grate 33on one hand and the walls 8, 9 and 15, 16 on the other hand, thearrangement of the immersion pipes 29, the immersion depths of thepipes, the distance of the upper rim of the partitions or deviatingwalls 32, as well as the coordination of the walls 19 of passages 17 and18 which with their lower edge extend below the level Sp of the meltbath M bring about a circulation of the metal bath while the centralsection 36 of the container remains free for a body to betreated or forthe passage of the web to be treated.

According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the cooled offcompressed inert gas passes through a conduit 38 to the heat exchanger 4from where it is conveyed through conduit 39 to the immersion pipes 29to the horizontal section 30 of which there is parallely arranged aconduit 26 through which melted parts separated by the separator 26 areagain returned to the bath.

Above the heat exchanger 4 there is arranged the air preheater 5 for thecombustion air of the burner 6. The air preheater 5 may contrast theretoalso be arranged in the conduit 37 whereby the inert bas leaving thepassages 17, 18 will be cooled still further and in this condition isconveyed to the compressor 2.

According to the embodiment of FIG. 2, a treatment chamber 40 isprovided in the gas-tight closed circuit of the inert gas between theconduits 25 and the compressor 2, conduits 41, 42 of the inert gasconveying the inert gas to both sides of a web W to be treated or toboth sides of a web which has already been treated in the bath M of thecontainer 1, thereby preheating and- /or drying said web. The gas iswithdrawn through conduits 43, 44 and conveyed to the compressor 2 whichas a result thereof is acted upon with the cooler gas, that is the casewith the embodiment of FIG. 1. According to the embodimen of FIG. 4, anindividual immersion pipe 45 extends into a cylindrical partition ordeviating wall 45 which is extended downwardly and ends in a grate 47.Above the wall 46 there is provided a potshaped hood 48 the vertical orinclined wall 49 of which as well as the upper rim of the partition ordeviating wall 46 extends up to a point below the melting bath level.One or more withdrawing pipes 50 lead into the hood 48. The gas iswithdrawn through pipes 50. The embodiment according to FlG. 4 isparticularly well suited for belated mounting on already existingcontainers and has the advantage that it can be arranged on thecontainer rim in any desired number at any desired place depending onthe requirement.

The number of the immersion pipes 45 in each hood may be varied and thearrangement and number of the withdrawing pipes 15 may be changed.

For purposes of avoiding heat losses, the container 1 may for instanceby a cover 51 be covered to such an extent that the web-shaped metalband can be passed into or out of the container. Similar remarks applyto the immersing of articles into the container 1. In this instancepivotable or removeably covers or flaps may be employed.

With the embodiment of FIG. 5, a container 52 is provided which has twoparallel walls 53, 54 between which extends the immersion pipe 25. Abovethe walls 53, 54 there is placed a longitudinal hood 56 which theimmersion pipe 55 is passed. The metal bath M has its level 57 extend upto the illustrated level above the lower edges 58 of hood 56 which asillustrated is located at a lower level than the upper edges 59 of walls53, 54. The inert gas passes through the immersion pipe havingassociated therewith similar pipes extending in the longitudinaldirection of hood 56. The inert gas passes through the immersion pipe inthe direction of the arrow 60 into the metal bath and rises againbetween the walls 53, 54 through said metal bath while generating an airlift pump effect (see arrows 61) and pass into the longitudinal hood.From here the inert gas can be withdrawn through a pipe 62, can beheated up and in a circuit can again be conveyed to the immersion pipe55. The band 63 may in the illustrated position be pulled through thebath. Also with the embodiment between the hood 55 and the walls 64, 65of the container it is possible to provide a cover which will notinterfere with the passing through to the band 63.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by nomeans, limited to the specific showing in the drawings but alsocomprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. The method of treating an article in a heated liquid bath whichcomprises immersing said article in said bath in an open immersion areaand heating the liquid by circulating an inert gas through a systemclosed to atmosphere, heating said gas and introducing said gas intosaid liquid below the surface spaced from said immersion area andcollecting said gas passing upwardly through the surface of said liquidto continue circulation without exposure to air.

2. The method of treating an article as claimed in claim 1, in whichsaid article is a web, which further comprises passing said web througha chamber and circulating said inert gas through said chamber to heatsaid web.

3. The method of treating an article as claimed in claim 1, whichfurther comprises shielding said gas from said immersion area in saidbath, to direct said gas upwardly to the surface and confine it to theclosed system.

4. A method in combination to claim 1 for treating bodies and articlesto be immersed in the bath, which includes the steps of: directing thegas after leaving the bath onto the article to be treated in the bathand subsequently heating said gas.

5. A method in combination according to claim 1 which includes the stepsof: directing the gas after leaving the bath onto the article treated inthe bath, and subsequently heating the inert gas.

6. A method in combination according to claim 1, which includes the stepof filling the container up to a level above the mouth of the conduitsand the lower end of a withdrawing passage means of the container forthe inert gas.

7. A device for heating open melting baths, especially enameling baths,lead coating baths, metal baths, and glass baths, which includes:container means adapted to receive a melting bath. upright partitionmeans arranged within said container means and at least partiallydefining gas receiving space means adapted at the upper and lower endportions thereof to communicate with the respective adjacent containerspace outside said gas receiving means, first conduit means leading intothe upper portion of and downwardly in said gas receiving space meansfor conveying inert gas into said gas receiving space means, collectormeans arranged above said gas receiving space means for collecting gasascending in said gas receiving space means, compressor means arrangedoutside said container means and communicating with said collector meansfor receiving collected gas therefrom and compressing same, heatexchanger means communicating with said compressor means for receivingsaid inert gas therefrom, and second conduit means establishingcommunication between said heat exchanger means and said first conduitmeans.

8. A device according to claim 7, which comprises a heater includingsaid heat exchanger means and also including a burner and an airpreheater for combustion air for said burner, and third conduit meansleading from said compressor means to said heater and from the latter tosaid first conduit means.

9. A device according to claim 7, in which said first conduit meanscomprises a plurality of pipes for conveying inert gas into said gasreceiving space, and in which said collector means includes a channelhaving at least one side wall overlapping the respective adjacentpartition means while ending at a higher level than the lower end ofsaid first conduit means.

10. A device according to claim 7, in which said first conduit meansinclude immersion tubes arranged in rows substantially parallel to andnear the side walls of said container means.

11. A device according to claim 10, in which said partition meansincludes a wall provided between the lower portion of said immersiontubes and that one wall of said channel of said collector means whichfaces toward the interior of said container means.

12. A device according to claim 11, in which said wall of said partitionmeans ends above the lower edge of said one wall of said channel of saidcollector means which faces toward the interior of said container means.

13. A device according to claim 11, in which the lower portion of saidpartition means is an upright supporting grate.

14. A device according to claim 7, in which said partition means isspaced from the bottom of said container means. i

15. A device according to claim 7, which includes separator meansarranged on opposite container sides and communicating with said firstconduit means.

16. A device according to claim 7, which includes conveying meansinterconnecting said collector means and said compressor means forconveying an inert gas therethrough, and a gas-tight treatment chamberarranged in said conveying means between said collector means and saidcompressor means for treating an article.

17. A device according to claim 8, which includes conveying meansinterconnecting said collector means and said air preheater, forconveying an inert gas therethrough and a gas-tight treatment chamberinterposed in said conveying means for treating an article.

18. A device according to claim 7, in which said gas receiving spacemeans include deviating cylinder means having a bottom and being open atthe top and respectively surrounding the lower portions of said firstconduit means in spaced relationship thereto. the open end of saidcylinder means pointing upwardly.

19. A device according to claim 18, in which said collector meansinclude hood means arranged above and in spaced relationship to the openend of said cylinder means, and also include gas withdrawing pipe meansextending into said hood means.

20. A device according to claim 19, in which said cylinder means andsaid first conduit means and said hood means together form a pluralityof substantially coaxially arranged structural units arranged onopposite sides of said container.

1. The method of treating an article in a heated liquid bath whichcomprises immersing said article in said bath in an open immersion areaand heating the liquid by circulating an inert gas through a systemclosed to atmosphere, heating said gas and introducing said gas intosaid liquid below the surface spaced from said immersion area andcollecting said gas passing upwardly through the surface of said liquidto continue circulation without exposure to air.
 2. The method oftreating an article as claimed in claim 1, in which said article is aweb, which further comprises passing said web through a chamber andcirculating said inert gas through said chamber to heat said web.
 3. Themethod of treating an article as claimed in claim 1, which furthercomprises shielding said gas from said immersion area in said bath, todirect said gas upwardly to the surface and confine it to the closedsystem.
 4. A method in combination to claim 1 for treating bodies andarticles to be immersed in the bath, which includes the steps of:directing the gas after leaving the bath onto the article to be treatedin the bath and subsequently heating said gas.
 5. A method incombination according to claim 1 which includes the steps of: directingthe gas after leaving the bath onto the article treated in the bath, andsubsequently heating the inert gas.
 6. A method in combination accordingto claim 1, which includes the step of filling the container up to alevel above the mouth of the conduits and the lower end of a withdrawingpassage means of the container for the inert gas.
 7. A device forheating open melting baths, especially enameling baths, lead coatingbaths, metal baths, and glass baths, which includes: container meansadapted to receive a melting bath, upright partition means arrangedwithin said container means and at least partially defining gasreceiving space means adapted at the upper and lower end portionsthereof to communicate with the respective adjacent container spaceoutside said gas receiving means, first conduit means leading into theupper portion of and downwardly in said gas receiving space means forconveying inert gas into said gas receiving space means, collector meansarranged above said gas receiving space means for collecting gasascending in said gas receiving space means, compressor means arrangedoutside said container means and communicating with said collector meansfor receiving collected gas therefrom and compressing same, heatexchanger means communicating with said compressor means for receivingsaid inert gas therefrom, and second conduit means establishingcommunication between said heat exchanger means and said first conduitmeans.
 8. A device according to claim 7, which comprises a heaterincluding said heat exchanger means and also including a burner and anair preheater for combustion air for said burner, and third conduitmeans leading from said compressor means to said heater and from thelatter to said first conduit means.
 9. A device according to claim 7, inwhich said first conduit means comprises a plurality of pipes forconveying inert gas into said gas receiving space, and in which saidcollector means includes a channel having at least one side walloverlapping the respective adjacent partition means while ending at ahigher level than the lower end of said first conduit means.
 10. Adevice according to claim 7, in which saiD first conduit means includeimmersion tubes arranged in rows substantially parallel to and near theside walls of said container means.
 11. A device according to claim 10,in which said partition means includes a wall provided between the lowerportion of said immersion tubes and that one wall of said channel ofsaid collector means which faces toward the interior of said containermeans.
 12. A device according to claim 11, in which said wall of saidpartition means ends above the lower edge of said one wall of saidchannel of said collector means which faces toward the interior of saidcontainer means.
 13. A device according to claim 11, in which the lowerportion of said partition means is an upright supporting grate.
 14. Adevice according to claim 7, in which said partition means is spacedfrom the bottom of said container means.
 15. A device according to claim7, which includes separator means arranged on opposite container sidesand communicating with said first conduit means.
 16. A device accordingto claim 7, which includes conveying means interconnecting saidcollector means and said compressor means for conveying an inert gastherethrough, and a gas-tight treatment chamber arranged in saidconveying means between said collector means and said compressor meansfor treating an article.
 17. A device according to claim 8, whichincludes conveying means interconnecting said collector means and saidair preheater, for conveying an inert gas therethrough and a gas-tighttreatment chamber interposed in said conveying means for treating anarticle.
 18. A device according to claim 7, in which said gas receivingspace means include deviating cylinder means having a bottom and beingopen at the top and respectively surrounding the lower portions of saidfirst conduit means in spaced relationship thereto, the open end of saidcylinder means pointing upwardly.
 19. A device according to claim 18, inwhich said collector means include hood means arranged above and inspaced relationship to the open end of said cylinder means, and alsoinclude gas withdrawing pipe means extending into said hood means.
 20. Adevice according to claim 19, in which said cylinder means and saidfirst conduit means and said hood means together form a plurality ofsubstantially coaxially arranged structural units arranged on oppositesides of said container.